French Ambassador in U.S. Honored by Alliance Israelite; Lauds Israel

March 19, 1958

NEW YORK (Mar. 18)

France and Israel “will forever be united in the eternal struggle for liberty and human dignity,” stated Herve Alphand, French Ambassador to the United States, last night addressing 250 Jewish leaders assembled at a reception given in his honor at the Hotel Pierre by the American Friends of the Alliance Israelite Universelle. He likened Frances aid to Israel, “at a time when help was most needed” to the help given by France to the American colonies in their struggle for independence.

M. Alphand warmly praised the work of the Alliance, a leading French-Jewish organization, active in the defense of Jewish rights throughout the world and operating a large network of schools in Israel and other Near Eastern countries as well as in North Africa. A telegram from Yitzhak Ben Zvi, President of Israel, expressing appreciation for the Alliance’s “contribution to the growth of Israel” was read at the gathering. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, who also addressed the gathering, stated that she is sure the schools of the Alliance, some of which she visited during her latest trip to North Africa, are strengthening the social fabric of that part of the world by raising the educational level of the local Jewish population.

Professor Rene Cassin, head of the French Conseil d’Etat in France, former chairman of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights and who is known as the “father of the Declaration on Human Rights,” shared with the audience his reminiscences on the drafting of the document. In his capacity as president of the Alliance Israelite Universelle, Professor Cassin expressed the gratitude of the organization for the help extended to many of its schools by American Jewry through the American Joint Distribution Committee.

Former Senator Herbert H. Lehman, honorary president of the American Friends of the Alliance, who chaired the meeting, said that he is certain the governments of Morocco and Tunisia will encourage the Alliance to maintain and strengthen its network of Jewish schools in these countries. Other speakers included Marcel Franco, president of the organization and Alan M. Stroock, chairman of the Board.